ICOM published a Red List (http://www.icom.org/redlist) of most
endangered archaeological objects from Africa. The publication of
this list has caught a lot of attention. Articles have appeared
in major newspapers all over the world : Liberation, Le Figaro,
the Observer, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung etc... and even CNN
made a special coverage in its "Focus on Africa " programme on
Saturday 13 May. We are expecting many others as El Mundo, the
New York Times and the Art Newspaper.

If by chance you see an article on the Red List in your country,
we will appreciate it very much if you could send a copy to the
ICOM secretariat.

The beauty of the Red List is that it is an easy-reference manual
with all the basic information, handsomely designed. Prominently
figuring in the Red List are the so-called NOK objects from
Nigeria. Two of these objects have been seized at the TEFAF-art
fair in Maastricht, the Netherlands on the request of the
Nigerian embassy.

Two of these NOK-objects are also prominently on show in a new
museum, at the Quai Branly, on the premises of the Louvre, that
centres on " Arts Premiers ". The president of ICOM has written a
letter to the French Minister of Culture to give some information
on the reason for exhibiting objects, that have illegally left
Nigeria.

In close co-operation with the French police and the embassies of
Nigeria and Niger other objects from the Red List have been
seized form a sale at the French auction house Drouot. The
Secretary General of ICOM has sent a letter to a major auction
house in the US where some other objects from the Red List, this
time from Mali appear.  Colleagues and officials from Mali have
been informed.

The simple publication of ICOM's Red List has produced much
press-coverage and also immediate action with which ICOM can
prove the importance of its struggle against illicit traffic of
artefacts. We would like you to let us know if there are any such
cases in your country, either in museums or in auction houses,
where objects from the Red List are exhibited. The more examples
we have the stronger our case will be.

We will keep you informed about the follow up.

ICOM secretariat

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